What agency provides external quality assurance (proficiency) surveys and laboratory accreditation?

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is responsible for providing external quality assurance (proficiency) surveys and laboratory accreditation. CAP offers a well-known program that allows laboratories to participate in proficiency testing, which helps ensure that lab results are accurate and comparable across different facilities. This program is a vital component of maintaining high laboratory standards and promoting quality assurance in medical testing.

CAP's accreditation is recognized nationally and is based on rigorous standards and practices that laboratories must adhere to in order to demonstrate that they can deliver reliable test results. This focus on continuous quality improvement and proficiency in testing makes CAP an essential organization in the realm of laboratory medicine.

Other organizations, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), also have roles in laboratory regulation, but their focus is primarily on compliance and adherence to federal regulations rather than on providing external quality assurance specifically.